What Buddha Might Say To John McCain
We are not presuming to know what the Buddha might say to John McCain, any more than what he might say to any of us. But the Buddha did teach very clearly about the dangers of greed, hatred and ignorance, what he called the three poisons, that John McCain seems to display quite frequently.
Together, these three are like thieves in the night who rob us of our happiness. Where greed grabs our desires, hatred takes our fear and insecurity and blames everyone else, while ignorance clouds our vision.
Greed has many relatives, such as jealousy, addiction, ambition, self-centeredness, pride, grasping and clinging, giving rise to dissatisfaction, irritation, frustration, annoyance, even depression. Greed slips into our mind, unnoticed, unasked for. Desire makes us manipulate conversations. The craving to have and possess stops us from giving, it limits our generosity, it generates a fear of not having. McCain personifies greed, not only in his many houses and cars, but in his desperate desire to win, no matter how.
Hate is destructive, indiscriminate, like a snake it can rise up out of nowhere and attack. It is found in prejudice, whether against different races, political beliefs, or sexual preferences. When we are fixed in the belief that we are right then anything that questions or threatens that belief becomes the enemy and should, therefore, be done away with. We see this in McCain's hawkish mentality to war and his attacking personality.
Such hatred becomes our own worst enemy, for no matter how much we try to annihilate the hated one, the hate remains inside us, slowly destroying and eating away at our own happiness and causing ill health.
Hatred towards others is based on the belief that we are all separate from each other, that we can hurt another without hurting ourselves, that I am more important than you. It breaks friendships and families, creates self-righteousness and arrogance. Prejudice makes us quick to judge or find fault, it closes our heart and shuts down our sensitivity.
Hatred and its many bedfellows are deeply destructive states but they are not permanent or fixed. We attended the memorial for a dear friend, held in the St John the Divine Cathedral in New York City. His son spoke of how he and his siblings had grown up with just one main rule in the house: they were not allowed to use the word hate. If you try this yourself you will see what a huge difference it makes to just eliminate that one word.
Where hatred closes our heart, delusion makes us believe there is a permanent, separate and fixed 'me' so that we take ourselves very seriously; it is the ignorance of our essential connectedness with all others. Where Obama says, "I'm not in this for me, I'm in it for you," McCain is obsessed with his accomplishments and seeing himself as the one who has it all together.
So John McCain, watch what you say and do. Anger is like a match that can burn down a forest. Outright lies cause untold suffering. But remember, when you point a finger at another there are four fingers pointing back to you, so you are the one who will have to reconcile with yourself. Please act wisely!
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Ed and Deb are respected authors and meditation teachers.
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During Buddha's time there were only Kings, voted in by the dominant tribe. Since the Buddha traveled the length and breadth of then India on foot. he knew the situation in each kingdom well. There were Kings interested in conquering another country trying to glean off information from the Buddha but he was steadfast not to revealed information to them. The Buddha would not have voted for Obama nor for McCain he would not say anything to McCain either on politics.
His advice would be the same as to all of us; do good, avoid evil and purify our mind. Every president that came into power leaves us some after taste of bitterness.
See Ed Shapiro's Profile
.In the first paragraph we wrote. (quote)
We are not presuming to know what the Buddha might say to John McCain, any more than what he might say to any of us. But the Buddha did teach very clearly about the dangers of greed, hatred and ignorance, what he called the three poisons, that John McCain seems to display quite frequently.
May all beings be happy and free from suffering.
I am happy and pleased to see both of you doing Dharma Duta work in the US. Keep up your good work. Always beware of ego setting in especially when people reply postively to you.
Try to read more on all the three major branches of Buddhism and see them each as part of a jigsaw puzzle. When you see sameness and not differences then you know you have right view. The ground must be fertile and cultivated before the planted seeds will grow. Buddhism is in the infant stage in the US, when the people are ready to practice then the teacher will appear.
You need not post this comment after reading it.
Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu.
I certainly agree that Obama is in this for us, the people, and with McCain, it is more tied up in his fixation upon his accomplishments. It was an interesting perspective that Ed gave here to remind us of how McCain may have gotten to that place. For me, this post then brought something that is at the front of all of our minds, the election, and made it more personal. As who hasn't dealt with feelings of pride? And it's a good reminder that nothing is fixed. But still, I wouldn't like to see McCain sorting all of this out in the White House!
What would the Buddha say about the importance of voting on November 4th? For all the enthusiasm, only 55% of Americans bothered to voted last time 'round. And today I ran into several good folks who wanted to vote for Ron Paul or Nader...seems great to support whoever you like, but didn't we learn that abstaining from voting for 'the lesser of two evils' in 2000 doesn't always work out so well?Don't we have to participate in samsara, in the confusion of daily life, even if we aspire to transcend it through meditation and compassion? What would you say?
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I wholeheartedly agree with you.
What is important is seeing the situation clearly. Although the intention to vote for the 3rd party is meaningful, it is empty and is another issue. It actually doesn't help determine the outcome and can damage the candidate who can best serve this country. This election is vital. Could anyone with a clear head vote for McCain and Palin. It's shear madness. Could anyone see Palin meeting with heads of state and discuss the world economic situation? Would anyone trust Palin to decide whether or not we should enter into a war or not. This is not a beauty contest this is beyond her capacity. I doubt that Sara would be hired as a CEO. This is 2008 not the 1800's. Times are much more complex. anyone who wants to be president/vice-president should be tested and have qualifications that are of the highest standard. I don't think Palin would pass the test.
Maybe we shouldn't cling to the would-be outcome. Just maybe we should let those who want to practice their American right to vote for who they like to do so.
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We should all do what is right, yes. But clinging is different. You can want things in this world but if you don't get it and it's ok then you are not clinging. It would help to use the vote in these challenging times wisely.
Thank goodness I'm for OBAMA!!!!
I like this, but it's mildly spoiled by the "fingers pointing back" misquote. When you point a finger at someone, there are THREE fingers pointing back at you, not four. Your thumb does not point back at you, unless you are double jointed and do some weird stuff with your hand when you point.
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You have a good sense of humour but at least you got the point. Thanks for pointing it out to me.
Also your thumb isn't a finger anyway, it's a thumb!
What a lively thread of comments. I propose we elect Ed and Deb. They could decide which one would be pres and vp. - perhaps they could take turns. (I will check with the buddha on this, that is to say, if they should take turns).
Look at the moon not the finger.
Contemplating how each candidate uses their platforms in a spiritual context - whether aware of this or not - is an interesting observation. McCain does appear to be hanging on for dear life to an old and dying paradigm of me against you, us against them - the dualities that keep suffering alive.
Thank you Ed and Deb for offering a larger view.
In Buddhism no matter how much wrong you have done, the moment when you have see through your mistakes and decide to turn over a new leaf for the better you can be a Buddha in the future. You have to accept the consequences of your wrong doing. Your karma will be your inheritance in your next life
not the your Texas Ranch nor the riches you have accumulated.
We are all, even John McCain and the haters at his rallys, Buddhas.
I think Buddha would say John McCain & George W. Bush will be reborn as cockroaches due to bad Karma.
"In the Jataka, the Buddha had given to rules for Good Government, known as 'Dasa Raja Dharma'. These ten rules can be applied even today by any government which wishes to rule the country peacefully. The rules are as follows:
1) be liberal and avoid selfishness,
2) maintain a high moral character,
3) be prepared to sacrifice one's own pleasure for the well-being of the subjects,
4) be honest and maintain absolute integrity,
5) be kind and gentle,
6) lead a simple life for the subjects to emulate,
7) be free from hatred of any kind,
8) exercise non-violence,
9) practise patience, and
10) respect public opinion to promote peace and harmony.
Regarding the behavior of rulers, He further advised:
- A good ruler should act impartially and should not be biased and discriminate between one particular group of subjects against another.
- A good ruler should not harbor any form of hatred against any of his subjects.
- A good ruler should show no fear whatsoever in the enforcement of the law, if it is justifiable.
- A good ruler must possess a clear understanding of the law to be enforced. It should not be enforced just because the ruler has the authority to enforce the law. It must be done in a reasonable manner and with common sense. -- (Cakkavatti Sihananda Sutta)
"
From http://www.budsas.org/ebud/whatbudbeliev/229.htm
We are indeed soul mates in the call to compassion!
"Where hatred closes our heart, delusion makes us believe there is a permanent, separate and fixed 'me' so that we take ourselves very seriously; it is the ignorance of our essential connectedness with all others. Where Obama says, "I'm not in this for me, I'm in it for you," McCain is obsessed with his accomplishments and seeing himself as the one who has it all together."
What an amazing world we would live in if we were all not in this for me, but in it for you,
Thank you for reminding us, and I look forward to seeing next weeks post.
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You are a bright Light. May your wisdom and compassion touch many hearts.
My mother did not know anything about Buddah but she always taught me that you should never hate anyone and that that word shold not be in my vocabulary. I did not realize how smart she was .Ed and Deb you have done it again you make me think And I thank you for that .I wish your articles were more than once a week. Yvonne
RIGHT ON THER MARIK AS USUAL. McCAINE WITH HIS TEMPER WILL BE EXPOSED., EVEN HIS WIFE SEEMS FEARFUL OF HIM. A BINGE WITH THE BUDAH COULD MAKE A BETTER PERSON AND CANDIDATE OF HIM. HIS WIFE SHOULD BE CAREFUL THAT SHE KEEPS HER LOOKS OR HE MIGHT LOOK FOR ANOTHER CHIPPIE. GUESS HE HAS A NAPOLEANIC COMPLEX. bOTH DEB AND ED KEEP THESE COLUMNS COMING.
Buddha would say that voting for either candidate is harmful, since it ties one to a material world that doesn't really exist.
And he might just have something to say to bloggers that leverage his name in a cheap attempt to further their own political agenda.
have to disagree with that one... following that would mean that you shouldn't even eat, as eating food would be harmful, since it ties one to the material world that doesn't really exist...
would he tell you to not tie yourself to the material world by reading articles, that don't really exist, on the internet, that doesn't really exist, while using a computer, that doesn't really exist.
why would he even speak to bloggers, if they don't really exist?
I think the Buddha might just have something to say to you.
Buddhist monks eat one, small meal per day. Just enough to get by. They have no possessions except one set of clothes and a begging bowl. Why? So they are not tied too much to the material world.
The point of Buddhism is not to make the world better. Because better or worse is still on the same path. The same endless cycle. The only way to get off that cycle is to transcend it. Voting for one guy versus another is not transcendence.
And PS, Buddha wouldn't have anything to say to me. Or you, or other bloggers. He is in Nirvana. Beyond all worldy cares. That's the goal.
Buddha would vote and campaign for Obama:
http://www.budsas.org/ebud/whatbudbeliev/229.htm
See Ed Shapiro's Profile
This world is very real. Who is writing this comment?
Buddha taught and the Dalai Lama teaches the importance of 'others.' The importance of compassion for others to wake up. Obama says that he is in it for others. McCain constantly speaks of himself. I believe it is very important to have leaders like Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and possibly Obama who care and who want a better world.
What a great point!
The days of selfishness ruling are waning. The financial situation all over the globe point to the futility of me-me-me consciousness. May the days of "us vs. them" become history. What a blessing that we have a candidate that is the embodiment of Yes WE can! I am fascinated by McCain's me-me-meaness. It isn't a position of power as the polls are mercifully revealing.
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I think the Buddah would feel empathy and perhaps EVEN love for McCain ... but he definitely would NOT vote for him!
I sometimes think Barack Obama is like a buddha. When he encounters attacks from McCain and company, he just smiles a knowing and compassionate smile.
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